Houghton Co. Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hancock, Michigan 49930
Tuesady, April 25, 2000 7:50 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The first officer (flying pilot) reported that during the takeoff run, the captain noticed a group of about seven deer approaching the runway. The first officer aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane contacted two deer which ran onto the runway. The deer contacted the left engine/propeller which automatically shut down. The airplane then taxied to the gate without further incident. The collision occurred approximately 3,000 feet down the 6,501 foot runway just prior to the airplane reaching V1.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the deer which ran onto the runway and were subsequently struck by the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/25/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 750
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City HANCOCK
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49930
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport HOUGHTON CO. MEMORIAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CMX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1095
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CMX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1095
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 21
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 449
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 25 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N404XJ
NTSB Number CHI00LA124
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Saab-Scania AB (Saab)
Aircraft Model SF-340B
Aircraft Series Identifier SF-340B
Aircraft Serial Number 404
Certified Max Gross Weight 29300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 40
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Apr 5 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 119
Airframe Hours 8863
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MESABA AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7501 26TH AVENUE S.
Aircraft Owner City MINNEAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55450
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LAMBERT LEASING, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 21300 RIDGETOP CIRCLE
Operator City STERLING
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 20166
Operator Code MALA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CMX
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSP
Destination City MINNEAPOLIS
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 6501
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --